Stories from Friday, November 10, 2006

Most of us are terrified of something. We have nightmares. We have things we avoid. We have people we avoid. Since I'm afraid of heights, I have a strong reaction to photographs of people standing where falling would result in sure death. You've seen some of those photos. They show a construction worker walking, with no safety harness of any kind, across a steel girder suspended over a skyscraper under construction...

Southeast Missouri high school students who painstakingly built balsa-wood bridges watched Thursday as state transportation employees broke them. The day of destruction was part of the Missouri Department of Transportation's third annual bridge-building competition for high school juniors and seniors...

Prost Builders wants to use the space at 224 N. Middle St. as additional parking for the Marquette Centre. By TJ GREANEY Southeast Missourian That's what the classified ad might look like for a building in Cape Girardeau that is set to be demolished but could still be saved with the help of a benefactor...

The widow of a slain civil rights activist and former NAACP leader was announced Thursday as the keynote speaker for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner in January. Since the 1963 shooting death of Medgar Evers, his wife, Myrlie Evers-Williams, has carried on his work...

The idea of an east-west interstate highway to connect Southeast Missouri to both coasts has been floating around for years. One of the big issues is getting across the river. There is a bridge on I-57 that connects Southern Illinois to Sikeston, Mo. Cape Girardeau's new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge is capable of handling an interstate route, which would boost traffic far above the lackluster figures recently reported by the Missouri Department of Transportation...

To the editor: The lack of police security in this city is an abomination. I've been living off Good Hope and Hanover streets for a year. I came to your city from New Orleans last year due to the hurricane. It blows my mind how little police have done to clean up the intersection of Good Hope and Hanover. ...

To the editor: As I stayed up until 1:08 a.m. watching the future of our state and our country, I couldn't help but feel heartbroken as a Missourian and an American, when U.S. Sen. Jim Talent conceded to Claire McCaskill. Missouri lost an honest, hard-working public servant and gained a manipulative, pro-abortion, pro-cloning, anti-family senator...

To the editor: Hardly any other public issue troubles me as much as our enormous national debt of over $8 trillion, which amounts to about $28,000 for every person in this country. This is an unconscionable burden, most of which will fall on people who are not yet of voting age and had no part in making the spending and taxing decisions that resulted in this debt. ...

To the editor: The "Stone Soup" fable weaves the story of a hungry peasant setting up a kettle in the city square and adding a stone. Skeptical interest was aroused by the unlikely adequacy of a stone to produce nourishing soup. Conversations with passers-by resulted in the invitation to add a simple ingredient until the community members contributed enough to create a banquet for all, including the hungry peasant...

A couple of things have turned up that may help to clear your mind and revive your spirit after the nastiness of this political campaign: Goodness knows, we need relief after the barrage of negative ads and insistent phone calls that candidates and political parties unleashed on us. ...

Dear Tom and Ray: My husband has a 1992 Nissan Maxima with almost 300,000 miles on it. He has taken rather good care of it and kept up all the regular maintenance. However, it now needs a new transmission. He wants to spend $2,000 to $3,000. I would rather invest it in our next used car. ...

It's a big year at Suzuki, which adds its largest vehicle to its U.S. lineup. The newly revamped Suzuki XL7 debuts for 2007 as a bigger, five- and seven-passenger crossover sport utility vehicle that's longer, wider and heavier than its predecessor. The XL7 also is restyled, inside and out, has a more powerful V-6 than before and drops the hyphen from its previous, XL-7 name...

Robert Joseph Rellergert, 83, of Glennon, Mo., passed away Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, at the family home. He was born July 2, 1923, in Apple Creek, son of the late Felix J. and Helen Schrempp Rellergert. He and Marie C. Nenninger were married April 19, 1947, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Glennon...

Taken together, the findings raise more questions than they answer. By SCOTT LINDLAW and MARTHA MENDOZA The Associated Press In a remote and dangerous corner of Afghanistan, under the protective roar of Apache attack helicopters and B-52 bombers, special agents and investigators did their work...

The Associated Press NEW YORK -- Ed Bradley, the award-winning television journalist who broke racial barriers at CBS News and created a distinctive, powerful body of work during his 26 years on "60 Minutes," died Thursday. He was 65. Bradley died of leukemia at Mount Sinai hospital, CBS News announced...

By LAUREN FRAYER The Associated Press BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S. soldiers strolled through neighborhoods in troubled north Baghdad on Thursday, poking their heads into storefronts and delivering the same message all day: Donald H. Rumsfeld's departure does not mean American forces will abandon efforts to stabilize the capital...

The Associated Press BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A stunning new death count emerged Thursday, as Iraq's health minister estimated 150,000 civilians have been killed in the war -- about three times previously accepted estimates. Moderate Sunni Muslims, meanwhile, threatened to walk away from politics and pick up guns, while the Shiite-dominated government renewed pressure on the United States to unleash the Iraqi army and claimed it could crush violence in six months...

PULASKI, Ill. -- Raymond Lee Welch Sr., 76, of Pulaski died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006, at his home. He was born Jan. 14, 1930, in Hickman, Ky., son of Walker and Mattie Welch. He and Jewell Esther Elizabeth Winters were married Sept. 2, 1951. Welch was a farmer many years, and was a deputy in Pulaski County. He had been a heavy equipment operator and also worked for Consolidated Coal Co. eight years. He was a member of St. John Praise and Worship Center...

By JENNIFER LOVEN The Associated Press WASHINGTON -- President Bush and House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi, perhaps the biggest loser and winner on Election Day, pledged over lunch Thursday to bury the hatchet and cooperate. When possible. At the White House, where Bush had invited Pelosi for lunch, presidential aides joked that there was no crow on the menu for Bush to eat...

By SCOTT MOYERS Southeast Missourian Two men, including one suspected of domestic assault, led Cape Girardeau police on a 10-minute chase in a stolen car, authorities said. The men were eventually apprehended, but not before one police cruiser was slightly damaged in the pursuit...

David Gene Mansker, 35, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006, at his home. He was born March 30, 1971, in Cape Girardeau, son of Harold Gene and Mary Sue Kasten Mansker. Dave was a member of Emanuel United Church of Christ in Jackson. He worked for Rubbermaid in Jackson and was previously employed with Bening Motor Co...

Kenneth M. Bailey Sr., 76, of Jackson died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006, at Monticello House. He was born Jan. 20, 1930, in Grafton, Ill., son of Clarence and Sadie Plummer Bailey. Bailey was an over-the-road truck driver 25 years. Survivors include a son and two daughters...

The student loan agency could even make some of its state payments early. By DAVID A. LIEB The Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's student loan authority should be able to give up $350 million for Gov. Matt Blunt's college construction plan without jeopardizing its financial health, according to an analysis released Thursday by the loan agency...

KELSO, Mo. -- Mary Elizabeth "Liz" Dannenmueller, 77, of Kelso died Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 1, 1929, at Kelso, daughter of August and Rose Glastetter Heisserer. She and LeRoy Dannenmueller were married May 25, 1948, at Kelso...

Lela Popp, 89, of Jackson died Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

Linda M. Malone, 93, of Jackson passed away Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, at Monticello House. She was born Oct. 25, 1913, near Fruitland, the second child of Christian and Caroline Friedrich Pensel. She and James Lloyd "Pat" Malone were married Dec. 13, 1947. They enjoyed 22 years of marriage prior to his death Oct. 20, 1970...

Dirk Landers, 48, of Downers Grove, Ill., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006, in Downers Grove. A service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the chapel at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

"the science program." Nenninger, a Notre Dame senior who set the school record for kills in a single season this fall, signed her letter of intent Thursday to attend Murray State. The Kentucky school is an Ohio Valley Conference rival for Southeast Missouri State, which also was among the schools Nenninger considered...

A change in softball coaches at St. Louis University this summer turned out to be a good thing for Notre Dame senior Kristain Burger. John Conway, the former coach at Division III Fontbonne University in St. Louis County, was named to replace Jim Molloy, who had first started recruiting Burger two years ago before retiring in May...

McCoy concededthe honor will goto Ohio State's Smith. The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas -- With Colt McCoy piling up touchdown passes and keeping No. 4 Texas on the edge of the national title chase, the redshirt freshman quarterback is hearing his name as a dark-horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy...

The Associated Press PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers arrived -- and kicked No. 3 Louisville right out of the national championship scramble. The program that once set the standard for college football futility jumped into the title picture Thursday night by rallying from a big deficit for a 28-25 victory over the Cardinals...

25 years ago: Nov. 10, 1981 A former principal of May Greene School, Robert K. Renfro, becomes the fourth candidate to seek a seat on the Cape Girardeau City Council in the April 1982 municipal election; Renfro, who retired last year as principal of May Greene after 27 years in the local public school system, is making his first bid for elective office...

New, bigger Missouri road maps available Motorists will find it easier to read Missouri's new road map, highway officials said Thursday. The 2007-2008 highway map is 12 percent larger so the type is bigger and easier to read, officials said. The free maps are available at MoDOT offices, highway rest areas, visitor centers, the Missouri Division of Tourism and other state offices. Copies can be at www. modot.org, or by calling (888) 275-6636...

More than 200 residents and staff of the Missouri Veterans Home will be served a barbecue lunch Saturday. For the second year in a row, members of the SEMO Electrical Connection and Schnucks Market will provide the luncheon as a dedication in honor of veterans. ...

The Associated Press SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Athletics have started a new gold rush, south to the open spaces and financial bounties of Silicon Valley. The 49ers and A's each hope to build new stadiums in the southern reaches of the San Francisco Bay Area. ...

The Associated Press CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois basketball's slogan this season, "Winning is a Habit," is a catchphrase coach Bruce Weber hopes proves true as the Illini face their first season without any of the starters who led them to the 2005 NCAA Championship game...

Cape Girardeau...

Crowden Daughter to Troy Alan Crowden and Amber Lynn Kight of Delta, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:40 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006. Name, Adisen Layne. Weight, 7 pounds. Third child, second daughter. Ms. Kight is the former Amber Ziller, daughter of Diane Griffin of Allenville. She is employed at Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse. Crowden is the son of Dale and Donna Hobeck of Delta and Terry and Nonna Crowden of Waco, Texas...

ST. LOUIS -- Rostislav Klesla scored twice and Rick Nash netted his first goal in a month during a wild second period to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night. The frame featured six goals, five power-play opportunities and some ragged play from Blues goaltender Manny Legace. ...

The Notre Dame boys soccer team has a high-scoring offense and a lockdown defense, two good reasons for its 24-1 record and spot in tonight's Class 2 semifinal at the Anheuser-Busch Center. The Bulldogs have another factor on their side heading into tonight's 6 p.m. meeting with West Plains -- depth...

When the Trans-Siberian Orchestra first came to Cape Girardeau in 2004, they were probably met with looks of bewilderment. "When we walk into town for the first time most people think we're a bunch of Russians," jokes TSO guitarist Al Pitrelli. "Let's dispel that myth."...

Nuns typically aren't known for their humor -- especially humor that borders on what most people would call crude. So when a bunch of fictional nuns -- all of whom are crazy characters in their own right -- ham it up variety-show style, the result is a pretty entertaining couple of hours...

When Scott Edgar was the coach at Murray State more than a decade ago, his Racers played Arkansas in the first regular-season game at the Razorbacks' Walton Arena. Arkansas routed Murray State 93-67 on that late November evening in 1993. Edgar can only hope another debut involving Walton Arena goes better tonight when he coaches his first regular-season game with Southeast Missouri State...

The move to the fall brought participation declines and pool issues for Central's swimming team, but the Tigers fought through the difficulties and find themselves in a familiar position heading into this weekend's state swimming meet. Central will be well represented once again this season and could put a swimmer on the podium for the first time since 1999...

The schedule figures to be more grueling than the competition for Missouri at the start of the Mike Anderson era. Quin Snyder's replacement unveils his run-and-gun style today against North Carolina A&T in the first of three games in three days in the John Thompson Foundation Classic in Columbia, Mo. The Tigers, opening the school's second century in the sport with the earliest starting date, follow with games against Army on Saturday and Stetson on Sunday in the round-robin event...

Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach B.J. Smith won't coach the Redhawks in their season-opening game Saturday night at Tulsa, and sources close to the situation confirm there are doubts Smith will coach again at the university. The fifth-year coach who turned the program into one of the Ohio Valley Conference's best was placed on leave by the university. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Alex Barron says he's no different from any other player, trying to gain an advantage. But the St. Louis Rams' young offensive tackle keeps getting caught anticipating the snap. According to the New York Times, the team's first-round pick in 2005 was the most penalized player in the NFL during his rookie season, and was whistled for a pair of costly false start infractions that killed a potential game-tying drive in last week's loss to the Chiefs...

In all fairness, if you haven't watched the first two "Santa Clause" movies, the third will leave you somewhat lost. Unfortunately, I did not see one or two, so I had to catch up. This is definitely a children's movie. It's somewhat rewarding to take the kids to see a Christmas movie, but from an adult's perspective it was just a little corny. I hate to use that word, because it had a good cast and it's about Santa's helpers...

This year the Southeast Missouri Department of Theatre and Dance has changed the name of its annual Fall Dance Concert. Instead of the generic "Fall Dance Concert," the yearly offering is now "Dance-apalooza." Yes, the name is much more eye-catching, but the winning formula that makes this dance showcase a hit every year remains the same -- big-time variety in dance styles...

Arts Council craft show Nov. 18 and 19...

Farmers will reap a good harvest of cash this year as heavy foreign demand and the prospect of strong corn sales to new ethanol plants push prices well above recent averages. And the prospects are good that the prices enjoyed by farmers this year will help set a stable, profitable floor for prices in the future, according to farm economists...

Starring Russell Crowe, Albert Finney and Marion Cotillard. London-based investment banker Max Skinner plans to sell a small vineyard he inherits from his uncle. But Max encounters a beautiful California woman who also lays claim to the property, and he begins to consider whether he can really sell the place. Rated PG-13 for language and some sexual content, running time 118 minutes. (Town Plaza Cinema)...

Eating a meal that contains both corn and mashed potatoes is a harrowing ordeal for me. The utmost care must be taken to ensure those two foods don't mix on my plate. I don't subscribe to the "it all ends up in the same place" theory. It's junk science -- my taste buds are in my mouth...